Suspension means for bunk beds

ABSTRACT

Suspension means for supporting a bunk bed for translatory movement between a lowered position of use and a raised position on non-use by linkage assemblies respectively at the bed ends, the linkage assemblies providing parallel motion operations so that in one form of the invention the bed remains horizontal and is not tilted, while in another form, through the use of lost motion connections the bed in raised position may be further moved from the usual horizontal raised position to a tilted position to conform with a sloping ceiling. Provision is also made in one embodiment of the invention to shift the bed forwardly and rearwardly in response to the translatory movement so that the path of movement of the bed will be substantially vertical rather than curved. The linkage assemblies are synchronized, and coordinated in their movements by a unique adjustable torsion member.

United States Patent [191' y July 17, 1973 l l SUSPENSION MEANS FOR BUNKBEDS [75] Inventor: Emery J. Nagy, Burbank, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Kwikee Enterprises Inc. Drain, Oreg.

[22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 284,644

Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Att0meyR. Welton Whann et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Suspension means for supporting a bunk bed for translatorymovement between a lowered position of use and a raised position onnon-use by linkage assemblies respectively at the bed ends, the linkageassemblies providing parallel motion operations so that in one form ofthe invention the bed remains horizontal and is not tilted, while inanother form, through the use of lost motion connections the bed inraised position may be further moved from the usual horizontal raisedposition to a tilted position to conform with a sloping ceiling.Provision is also made in one embodiment of the invention to shift thebed forwardly and rearwardly in response to the translatory movement sothat the path of movement of the bed will be substantially verticalrather than curved. The linkage assemblies are synchronized, andcoordinated in their movements by a unique adjustable torsion member.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 SUSPENSION MEANS FOR BUNK BEDS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field offolding beds.

It has heretofore been known to provide parallel linkage assemblies forthe suspension of bunk beds in homes, campers, chassis mounts, motorhomes, trailer homes, boats, and the like, but prior to the presentinvention the equipment was not all that could be desired, and had to bemore or less custom fitted to the different installations.

With the current increased activities in the outdoors, camping, mobilehomes, and the like, it has become apparent that equipment of greaterversatility and adjustability is needed in order to meet the present dayrequirements.

Accordingly, the suspension means of the present invention, ashereinafter described, has been designed to overcome the inherentproblems and disadvantages of the prior known suspension assemblies, andprovides a more flexible and versatile design having'unique installationand operation features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tofolding beds, and is more particularly .concemed with improvedsuspension means for bunk beds, and control of the path of movementduring translatory movement of the bed between positions of use andnon-use. I

It is one object of the invention to provide suspension means for bunkbeds, in the form of suspension assemblies which have greaterflexibility of installation, are more efficient in operation, and whichguide the bed in a more desirable translatory path of movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide suspension means asdescribed in the preceding object, wherein the suspension assemblies atthe ends of the bed are synchronized by a torsion member of improvedconstruction, providing for length adjustment and having improvedconnection means at each end.

Another object of the invention is to provide suspension linkageassemblies which are controlled during the translatory movement of thebed in such a manner that the bed will follow a substantially verticalpath of movement, rather than a curved path.

Still another object is to provide suspension assemblies which may beoperated after the bed reaches a raised horizontal position, so as totilt the bed upon further movement from the horizontal position so as toaccommodate the bed generally to a sloping ceiling.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out inthe following part of the specification, wherein detailed description isfor the purpose of fully disclosing several embodiments of the inventionwithout placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. is a front elevational view of a bunk bed supported by suspensionlinkage assemblies which embody the features of the present invention,the bunk bed being shown in lowered position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the linkage assemblies,as seen from line 22 of FIG. 1,

portions being cut away to reveal the cooperative relationship ofcertain of the linkage members; and

FIG. 3 is a similar view of a modified form which permits furthermovement from a horizontal raised posi tion into a position in which thebed will be rearwardly tilted to conform to a sloping ceiling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS Referring more specifically tothe drawings, for illustrative purposes, the invention is shown as beingapplied to a bunk bed A such as might be used for a trailer home or thelike. The bunk bed may of course vary as to details of construction, butfor simplicity herein has been illustrated as embodying a simplesubstantially rectangular elongate bed frame 10 of wood or othersuitable material for receiving a bunk mattress 11 therein.

The bunk bed is supported at its ends by means of right and left linkageassemblies and 12b which support the bunk bed for raising and loweringmovements between a lowered position of use, as shown in FIG. 1, and araised position of non-use. The operation of the linkage assemblies 12aand 12b are synchronized and coordinated through an interconnectingtorsion member as generally indicated at 14.

Since each of the linkage assemblies are basically the same with respectto their components and operation, it is believed that it will only benecessary to describe one of the linkage assemblies. For such purposethere is shown in FIG. 2 an embodiment of the invention in which thecomponents of the linkage assembly are so designed that the bunk bedinstead of having a curved translatory movement between lowered andraised positions will have a rectilinear movement such that thetranslatory movement of the bed will follow a substantially verticalpath as indicated at 15. i

More specifically, the linkage assembly comprises a main frame member 16of shallow box-like construction which forms a protective housing forcertain components of the assembly. Relatively shallow top and bottomwalls 17 and 18 are provided with mounting flanges, respectively, asindicated at 19, which facilitate the mounting of the main frame on anadjacent surface. At the other side of the top and bottom walls, thereis provided a connecting facing wall 20 which extends vertically andhorizontally in outwardly spaced relation to the ends of the bed frame10.

An elongate end rail 21 preferably of angular section is connectable byconventional means with the adjacent end of the bed frame 10.

A pair of front and rear link members 22a and 22b are shown as havingone set of their corresponding ends pivoted in horizontally spacedrelation on said facing wall by fixedly connected pivot pins 230 and 23brespectively, which are supported in appropriate bearings (not shown) inthe facing wall 20. The other ends of the link members 220 and 22b arepivoted in horizontally spaced relation on the end rail 21 by pivot pins24a and 24b respectively, these pins being arranged for sliding movementwithin the rail slots 25a and 25b. The spacing of the pivot pins 24a and24b is maintained by means of a spacing bar 26 which connects at itsends with the pivot pins.

In order to accomplish forwardly and rearwardly shifting movement of theend rail 21 in response to translatory movement of the bed, so as toobtain the vertical path of movement, rail shifting links 27a and 27bare utilized to interconnect pivot points on the link members with pivotpoints on the end rail, these pivot points being spaced from the pivotpins 24a and 24b as shown. The rail shifting link 27a is connected tothe link member at pivot 28a and to the rail by pivot 29a, while therail shifting link 27b is similarly connected to its link member bypivot 28b and to the rail by pivot 29b. It will be observed that thestructure thus far described provides in effect a parallel motionlinkage.

At the upper ends of the link members 22a and 22b, the pivot pins 23aand 23b are fixedly secured to the inner ends of short arm members 30aand 30b respectively, the outer ends of these arm members beingpivotally connected with the respective ends of a tie bar 31. The rightend of this tie bar is connected to one end of a tension spring 32 whichhas its other end anchored to the top wall 17 by means of a connector33. As arranged, the spring 32 provides a balancing force for the weightof the suspended mass including the bed structure, and normally appliesa force which tends to motivate the linkage through a translatory bedraising path.

While the outer ends of the link members 220 and 22b move through anarcuate path as indicated at 34, in carrying the bed from its loweredposition to a raised position, the rail shifting links will swing in aclockwise direction about their pivots, with the result that the rail 21is progressively moved rearwardly at a rate which will compensate forthe curvature of the path 34 in such a way as to carry the bed through avertical path as indicated at 15. A saving of space is thus obtained,since the bed is not shifted forwardly.

It will be appreciated that the operation of the right and left likageassemblies must be snychronized and coordinated, and this is donethrough the torsion member 14, as previously mentioned. It is a featureof the present invention to utilize a torsion member which may beadjusted lengthwise in order to accommodate to different bed lengths.For this purpose, the torsion member is made of multisided tubularmembers which are telescoped at their adjacent ends as indicated at 35.At each outer end, there is provided a right angled channel-shapedextension 36 which is adapted to laterally receive a portion of the linkmember 22b at its upper end therein, a removable bolt or appropriatefastening means 37 being provided to secure the end of the torsionmember in axial alignment with the pivot pin 23b. As thus arranged, thetorsion member is easily installed and adjusted.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 differs from that of FIG. 2 in that therail shifting links have been omitted, as well as the rail slots whichprovide the feature of raising the bed in a substantially vertical path.That is to say, in the arrangement of FIG. 3, the bed is raised andlowered in a curved path. Similar components have been indicated bysimilar numbers in FIG. 3, as have been used in the previousdescription. The arrangement of FIG. 3, however, embodies the feature ofpermitting further translatory movement beyond the upper horizontalposition, designed to permit accommodating the raised bed against arearwardly sloping ceiling as generally indicated by the numeral 38.

The structural difference which provides this feature will now beexplained. The pivot pin 24b is in this case fixed on the end rail 21and extends into an end slot 39 at the lowermost end of the link member22b. This arrangement provides a lost motion connection at this point. Asimilar lost motion connection is provided at the outermost end of thearm member 30a, wherein pivot pin 40 fixed to the arm 30a extends intoan end slot 41 at the right end of the tie bar 31. It will be observedthat in the normal translatory movement of the bed from its horizontalposition of use to the horizontal raised position, the pins 24b and 40are at the outermost ends of their associated-slots. As the translatorymovement is continued, to a position in which the bed is tilted, it willbe observed that the pins move to the inter-ends of associated slots soas to provide the tilting action.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it will be clearly evidentthat the delineated objects and fea tures of the invention will beaccomplished.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do notwish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned,except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Suspension means for supporting an elongate generally rectangularbunk bed structure for translatory movement between a lowered positionof use and a raised position of non-use, comprising:

a. a pair of linkage assemblies at each end of the bed structure, eachcomprising:

an elongate main frame adapted for fixed mounting on an adjacent medium,said frame having a vertical facing wall'spaced outwardly of andextending in a generally parallel direction along the adjacent end ofthe bed structure;

an elongate rail member adapted for supporting connection with theadjacent end of the bed structure;

a pair of front and rear link members having one set of theircorresponding ends pivoted in horizontal spaced relation on said facingwall and their other ends pivoted in horizontally spaced relation onsaid rail member, and coacting with said facing wall and rail member toprovide a parallel motion linkage;

a tension spring having a connection with at least one of said linkmembers for normally urging the link members towards a raised positionof the bed structure; and

b. a torsion member extending between said assemblies for synchronizingthe swinging movement of the link members therein, said torsion memberhaving telescoped sections providing length adjustment, and at each endbeing removably connected with the rear link member in axial alignmentwith its pivotal axis on said facing wall.

2. Suspension means according to claim 1, wherein the rear link membercomprises a bar, and the torsion member has an end connection bracketformed with a U-shaped channel for laterally receiving an adjacentportion of the bar therein; and including means for retaining the barand channel in connected relation.

3. Suspension means according to claim 1, wherein the telescopedportions of said torsion member are of tubular multi-sided crosssection.

4. Suspension means according to claim 1, including means forlongitudinally shifting said rail member in response to raising andlowering translatory movements of the bed structure so as to conform thebed movement to a substantially vertical path.

5. Suspension means according to claim 4, wherein said other ends of thelink members have their rail pivots respectively slidable inlongitudinally extending rail slots, and including rail shifting linksrespectively connected between each of said link members and the railmember with one end being pivoted on the link member in spaced relationto its rail pivot, and the other end being pivoted on the rail member inrearwardly spaced relation to the associated rail pivot.

6. Suspension means according to claim 5, including a spacer bar havingits ends respectively connected to the rail pivots of the link members.7. Suspension means according to claim 1, including means operative atthe raised position of the bed structure for effecting a tiltingmovement of the bed to a position conforming to a rearwardly downwardlysloping ceiling.

8. Suspension means according to claim 7, in which the link membersrespectively carry a fixed angle arm extending inwardly from the linkpivot on the facing wall; a tie bar having one end pivoted to the outerend of the arm associated with the rear link member, and its other endconnected to the outer end of the am associated with the front linkmember by a lost motion connection; and the connection of the rear linkmember to the rail member comprises a lost motion connection.

9. Suspension means according to claim 8, wherein the lost motionconnections respectively include a pin and slot.

10. Suspension means according to claim 8, wherein the arms extend at anangle of substantially 45 with respect to their associated link member.

1. Suspension means for supporting an elongate generally rectangularbunk bed structure for translatory movement between a lowered positionof use and a raised position of non-use, comprising: a. a pair oflinkage assemblies at each end of the bed structure, each comprising: anelongate main frame adapted for fixed mounting on an adjacent medium,said frame having a vertical facing wall spaced outwardly of andextending in a generally parallel direction along the adjacent end ofthe bed structure; an elongate rail member adapted for supportingconnection with the adjacent end of the bed structure; a pair of frontand rear link members having one set of their corresponding ends pivotedin horizontal spaced relation on said facing wall and their other endspivoted in horizontally spaced relation on said rail member, andcoacting with said facing wall and rail member to provide a parallelmotion linkage; a tension spring having a connection with at least oneof said link members for normally urging the link members towards araised position of the bed structure; and b. a torsion member extendingbetween said assemblies for synchronizing the swinging movement of thelink members therein, said torsion member having telescoped sectionsproviding length adjustment, and at each end being removably connectedwith the rear link member in axial alignment with its pivotal axis onsaid facing wall.
 2. Suspension means according to claim 1, wherein therear link member comprises a bar, and the torsion member has an endconnection bracket formed with a U-shaped channel for laterallyreceiving an adjacent portion of the bar therein; and including meansfor retaining the bar and channel in connected relation.
 3. Suspensionmeans according to claim 1, wherein the telescoped portions of saidtorsion member are of tubular multi-sided cross section.
 4. Suspensionmeans according to claim 1, including means for longitudinally shiftingsaid rail member in response to raising and lowering translatorymovements of the bed structure so as to conform the bed movement to asubstantially vertical path.
 5. Suspension means according to claim 4,wherein said other ends of the link members have their rail pivotsrespectively slidable in longitudinally extending rail slots, andincluding rail shifting links respectively connected between each ofsaid link members and the rail member with one end being pivoted on thelink member in spaced relation to its rail pivot, and the other endbeing pivoted on the rail member in rearwardly spaced relation to theassociated rail pivot.
 6. Suspension means according to claim 5,including a spacer bar having its ends respectively connected to therail pivots of the link members.
 7. Suspension means according to claim1, including means operative at the raised position of the bed structurefor effecting a tilting movement of the bed to a position conforming toa rearwardly downwardly sloping ceiling.
 8. Suspension means accordingto claim 7, in which the link members respectively carry a fixed anglearm extending inwardly from the link pivot on the facing wall; a tie barhaving one end pivoted to the outer end of the arm associated with therear link member, and its other end connected to the outer end of thearm associated with the front link member by a lost motion connection;and the connection of the rear link member to the rail member comprisesa lost motion connection.
 9. Suspension means according to claim 8,wherein the lost motion connections respectively include a pin and slot.10. Suspension means according to claim 8, wherein the arms extend at anangle of substantially 45* with respect to their associated link member.